Grant Proposals: $90 million awarded and counting

I hold the GPC (Grant Professional Certified # CH080005) and the CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) credentials.
 

In 1998, I wrote my first grant proposal for a large metropolitan school district, which resulted in a total of $9 million from the U.S. Department of Education for K-3 literacy programs for nine schools. To date, the over 300 grant proposals I have written have been submitted to private and public foundations and local, state, and federal government agencies, resulting in over $90 million in grant funding. Some examples of successful grant proposals include:

• $9,000,000 to nine schools ($1M each) for Reading Excellence grant for K-3 literacy programming
• $13,500,000 ($2.7M/year for five years) for Voluntary School Choice Program
• $2,750,000 to five schools for Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration grants
• $1,778,702 to a rural community college for a Community Based Jobs Training (CBJT) grant
• $576,000 over three years for a youth leadership organization
• $395,000 over three years for a performing arts organization
• $58,000,000 for REAL ID project grants for various state Department of Motor Vehicle departments
• $2,379,000 over three years for programs for homeless/near homeless seniors
• $468,000 over two years for a preschool for low-income children
• $250,000 for a high school capital campaign
• $100,000 for a magnet school program
• $222,500 over two years for a volunteer training program for hospice workers

 
In addition to writing grant proposals, my services include:

• In-depth grant searches to identify potential funders and grant opportunities
• Assistance in developing a comprehensive grants strategy
• Program and budget development
• Proposal planning, including facilitating work groups for proposal development
• Fundraising brochures and collateral (including capital campaigns, annual funds, and special events)
• Case Statements
• Donor recognition documents
• Concept letter, letters of request, and letters of intent/inquiry
• Newsletter and website content

Partial List of Grant Clients

• Allen County Jail Chaplaincy (IN)
• ALS Association of Oregon & SW Washington (OR)
• Associated Churches of Allen County (IN)
• Better Business Bureau Fort Wayne (IN)
• Bishop Dwenger High School (IN)
• C2G Music Hall (IN)
• Charleston Southern University (NC)
• Chief Lake Wilderness Youth Camp (MI)
• Department of Motor Vehicles (AL, CO, IA, KS, MA, SD, and WY)
• DIPSEA Race Foundation (CA)
• East Central Community College (MS)
• Faith Based Mentoring Ministries (IN)
• Firefighters Museum of Fort Wayne (IN)
• Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana (IN)
• Greene County School District (GA)
• Hamline University (MN)
• Martin Luther King Montessori Pre-School (IN)
• West Metro Education Program (MN)
• YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne (IN)
• McMillen Center for Health Education (IN)
• Mental Health Association of San Diego (CA)
• Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning (MN)
• New Vision, Inc. (TN)
• Parkview Foundation (IN)
• Queens Literature and Arts Club (IN)
• Ronald McDonald House of Northeast Indiana (IN)
• St. John’s Anderson Medical Center (IN)
• Scripps Foundation (CA)
• Senior Community Centers of San Diego (CA)
• SNYP (Spay and Neuter Your Pets) (OR)
• The Elizabeth Hospice (CA)
• Unity Performing Arts Foundation (IN)
• Vision Community (MI)
• YWCA Salt Lake City (UT)
• YWCA Duluth (MN)
• YWCA Mankato (MN)
• YWCA Pueblo (CO)
• YWCA Greater Baton Rouge (LA)
• YWCA Lubbock (TX)

“I’m honored to have had the opportunity to both meet and work with you throughout our recent grant proposal process. You brought with you professionalism, organization, and a unique ability to keep people ‘on track.’ You taught me how to maneuver through the maze of funders and identify strong candidates for program funding. Thank you!”

Shelly Dew, Development Manager
The Elizabeth Hospice, Escondido, CA

“Without your strong writing and editing skills and tireless work ethic, we would not have met the proposal deadline. You brought confidence and calm to a collaborative process that had become frenetic and stressful as the various partners labored for consensus. Your flexibility to work long hours as the deadline neared turned a near impossible into a proud accomplishment.”

Cindy Jackson, Senior State Program Administrator
Office of Equity, Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning

“After receiving a recommendation from a colleague, we hired Candace to help us with our grant strategy and materials. There were some concerns that working ‘virtually’ across several time zones might be an issue, but we could not have been happier with the results. Candace patiently walked us through the essential elements of a successful grant campaign and identified the areas where she could provide the most value and where our energies would be most effective. I’m happy to say we’ve seen immediate results!”

Al Lee, Board President
ALS Association of Oregon and SW Washington

“Candace is a true professional. You could not ask for a more insightful and pleasant grant writer. If you are looking for someone who can tell your story with grace and is great to work with, Candace is the perfect choice!”

Connie Kerrigan, Manager Community Nursing
Parkview Health, Fort Wayne, IN